How to Draw Weapons

The portrayal of weapons in fine arts is usually as a part of a scene. However, sometimes they appear as standalone items also. One of the often-displayed pieces is the rifle, which finds uses in warfare, hunting, and sports. Rifle has a long history and there are hundreds of varieties available in the market. For drawing purpose, the type of weapon you use will greatly depend upon the theme of your work. Following is a generalized systematic guide, applicable in the artistic adaptation of most kinds of rifles:
• Reference. Weapons are precision devices with set specifications. Therefore, you must be prudent enough not to miss any important detail. Unless you want an imaginary work, it is very important to obtain a reference from some source, like internet images and print media. You may use a real rifle as your model, but that is a very unlikely case. Be careful in picking your image with right features for a particular type. For instance, large viewfinders are more common in hunting rifles than in any other type.
• Preparation. Keep your drawing tools handy. A possible list will include a ruler, pencils, erasers, sharpener, compass, stencils, etc. In arts, not many dramatic effects are added to the weapons. In effect, you can do well with your standard HB pencils.
• Basic model. Nearly all the rifles are constructed upon a fundamental design, consisting of the butt, the operating section, and the barrel. Creating a skeletal frame of design is the trickiest part of such work. No matter which make you are sketching, study the reference picture or object very carefully to identify the outermost edges. Do not try to add any details simultaneously. A better approach will be to start from the tip of the barrel, moving backwards to the butt. However, you may choose another methodology depending upon your comfort level.
• Adding description. Always start from the outermost contours and proceeding towards the inside. Tackle one of the three main sections at a time. It is significant as every part has its own technical details. For example, the operating segment consists primarily of the trigger, the receiver, the rear sight, the operating rod, and the like. Nevertheless, different makes may vary in details. Add the finer elements, like screws, pins, support rods, etc. in the end.
• Finishing up. The image of a rifle can be kept without much pencil shading, but be sparing if you opt for it. If the weapon is set in color, it will usually be in solid black or grays. As a thumb rule, use your model for most of the effects.